State Highlights: Fla. Targets For-Profit Stem Cell Clinics; Ga. Gov. Proposes Extra $23M For Children’s Mental Health Services
Media outlets report on news from Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Massachusetts and Texas.
Health News Florida:
Tampa Lawmaker Proposes Crack Down On For-Profit Stem Cell Clinics
Florida has the second highest number of for-profit stem cell clinics in the United States, and a new proposal by a Tampa lawmaker would crack down on those that prey on elderly and vulnerable Floridians. These procedures take stem cells harvested from patients’ belly fat, bone marrow or blood and re-inject them into the body to try to cure a range of diseases. (Miller, 1/11)
Georgia Health News:
Health Care Largely Missing From Deal Annual Address
Gov. Nathan Deal, in his final State of the State address, announced Thursday that he is recommending $22.9 million in additional funding for children’s mental health services. ...In contrast, a year earlier, Deal had laid out several health care initiatives in his annual address. (Miller, 1/11)
Nashville Tennessean:
Mayor Megan Barry Delays Closure Of Inpatient Care At Nashville General Hospital
Mayor Megan Barry is delaying a controversial proposal to eliminate inpatient care at Nashville General Hospital. In a letter to the Metro Council members late Thursday, Barry proposed a "reset" on the plans at the recommendation of Vice Mayor David Briley. Barry said she would delay decisions on the fate of the hospital until the end of 2018. Barry had initially proposed closing inpatient care at the city's only public hospital by June in an announcement that took hospital officials, the oversight board, city officials and community leaders by surprise. (Wadhwani, 1/11)
Boston Globe:
Brown University, Calif. Chain Mount Bid To Buy R.I. Health System
Brown University said Thursday that it is joining with a California for-profit hospital chain in an attempt to buy Care New England Health System of Providence, adding an unexpected twist to efforts by Partners HealthCare of Boston to acquire the Rhode Island company. In a letter issued campus-wide, Brown President Christina Paxson warned that the acquisition of Care New England by Partners would put at risk “the vision of an integrated academic health system in and for Rhode Island,” and likely increase the cost of care in the state. (Conti, 1/11)
Houston Chronicle:
Dental Company With Large Texas Presence Hit With $24M Fine For False Medicaid Claims
A dental management company with multiple Texas clinics has been fined nearly $24 million for submitting false claims to state Medicaid programs - including Texas' - and performing unnecessary dental work on children. The fine against Benevis LLC - as well as its affiliated Kool Smiles clinics - was announced Thursday by the U.S. Justice Department. (Downen, 1/11)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Cobb Dental Company Will Pay $24M After Accusations Of Medicaid Fraud
Marietta-based Benevis, the company that operates Kool Smile dental clinics in low-income communities, has agreed to pay nearly $24 million to settle accusations of Medicaid fraud. Prosecutors said Wednesday that for years the company had performed medically unnecessary dental procedures like root canals on children and billed taxpayers for the work. (Brasch, 1/11)
